Feed-mixing machine



June 5, 1923.

1,457,325 M. F. THATCHER FEED MIXING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jim/"fin 7 Watcher.

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June 5, 1923.

M. F. THATCHER FEED MIXING MACHINE Filed D00. 24 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 m Q lrllulmm filllllllllllllllllIllll!"IIIHI llllllllll n H. .Ilfllllllil I l I I l 4| I w it? JIZFIMEII n gum,

June 5, 1923.

M. F. THATCHER FEED MIXING MACHINE 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 24

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June 5, 1923. 1,457,325

M. F. THATCHER FEED MIXING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet Patented June 5, 1923.

PATENT FFHC.

MARTIN ETHATCHER, 0F YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

FEED-MIXING MACHINE.

Application filed December 24, 1921. Serial No. 524,593.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, MARTIN F. Trmrcrmn, a citizen of the United States, residing at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Feed-Mixing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to feed mixing machines and particularly to that type of device in which an ingredient such as semi: solid buttermilk or molasses is mixed with a dry cereal constituent. In the mixing of such a substance with a light dry grain product, Jbran for instance, which is not readily wet With the molassesor buttermilk difficulty is encountered in obtaining a homogeneous mixture due to the adherence to the surface of the mass of molasses or buttermilk of thelayer of bran with which it first comes into contact in the mixing chamber. This prevents the intimate contact of the viscous constituent with the rest of the bran. The result is a produce which is excessively wet in some portions and practically free from any admixture with the viscous constituent inother portions, a condition which is not conducive to economical feeding, and which leads to fermentation in the stored mixture. I

By heating the molasses or buttermilk before mixing it with the dry feed so that its coefiicient of viscosity is much reduced, successful mixing might be accomplished were it not for the fact that the relatively small volume of viscous substance used, in proportion to the amount of grain, soon cools off and becomes viscous no matter how highly heated initially, when brought into contact with the cold mass of bran in the feed mixer.

The only practical solution of this mixing problem is the preheating of the grain as well as the molasses or semi-solid buttermilk and the maintenance of the two ingredients, in a uniformly heated condition during the entire process of mixing. The preheating of the grain drives out the moisture leaving the grain porous so that it readily absorbs a large roportion of the viscous ingredient, the pro not thus obtained being homogeneous in character and substantially dry, each particle of grain having received and absorbed its correct proportionof molasses or buttermilk.

One of the objects of my invention is the construction ofa machine in which may be carried out the process of mixing the molasses, or semi-solid buttermilk, and bran or other ingredients, including means for maintaining them uniformly heated and the invention further resides .in the specific construction of parts by which the machine is rendered at once, safe eflicient and inexpensive to manufacture.

For the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects, as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts generally shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the specification, but more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In. the drawings Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved feed mixing machine.

Figure 2 is a detail view showing the discharge chute.

; Figure 3 'is a side elevation showing parts in section.

Figure 4 is an end section taken along the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view in detail showing a side wall of the heatin chamber.

Figure 6 is a p an view partly in cross section taken along the line 66 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the paddle wheelsassociated with the conve er mechanism.

igure 8 is a perspective view of the shiftab-le bottom of the bran hopper.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the bottom of the molasses hopper showing the discharge gate valve.

Referring in detail to the several figures the mixing machine comprises a lower enclosure 1 in which are located the mixing troughs and the heating element, hereinafter to be described, and-the upper enclosure 2 which is divided by suitable partitions into hoppers for the segregation of the several ingredients preparatory to mixing. As shown in Figures 1 and 6 the lower enclosure comprises substantial 4 which are preferably of cast iron and to which are riveted or bolted the side walls 5 and 6. A bottom wall 7, best shown in Figures 3 and 4:, is secured to the lower edges of the side and end walls and a top w l 8 completes the. lower enclosure.

The top wall is provided with a rectangular opening 9, best shown in-'Figures 3 and 6 over which issuperposed the upper end walls 3 and enclosure 2 comprising the hoppers. The larger hopper which is represented by the numeral 10, and best shown in Figures 1 and 3, is provided with a slopin wall 11 at one end which is joined to the side walls 15 and 16, and has a slidable bottom 12, best shown in Figures 3 and 8, by which said hopper rack elements and 21 .respectively which are secured to the underside of the bottom 12. A hand wheel 22 mounted on a projecting end of the shaft 17 forms means by which the pinions 18 and 19 are turned and the slidable bottom 12 opened. The flanged angle irons 13 and 14 extend beyond said hopper a suflicient distance, as shown in Figure 3, 'to permit the slidable bottom to be shifted entirely beyond the lower open end of the hopper 10 so as to leave the entire lower portion-thereof in communication with the lower enclosure.

In the end of the upper enclosure 2 opposite the hopper 10 is the molasses hopper 23 which is separated from the main body of said upper enclosure by the partition wall 24 a portion of which is horizontal as shown at 25 and forms thebottom of said molasses hopper. A comparatively small circular aperture 26 is formed in the bottom 25 to Which is attached a discharge gate valve having a stationary cylindrical portion 27 which is secured to the bottom of the hopper and in registry with the aperture 26. The gate valve also includes a pivotally mounted portion 29 having an aperture which may be swung into and out of registry with the aperturefin the portion 27. An operating rod 30 is secured to one side of the pivotally .mounted portion and extends through the front wall 31 of the upper enclosure in convenient reach of the operator of the mixing machine.

The portion of the main body of the upper enclosure 2 which is not occupied by either the bran hopper or molasses hopper 3 forms an air space in which is located a steam boiler 32 which is best shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the ends of which project through the opposite side walls 15 and 16 and are supported thereby. A steam pipe 33 from said boiler leads exteriorly of said upper enclosure and enters the side wall of the molasses hopper projecting into the space within said hopper. A series of openings 34 in said steam pipe, best shown in Figure 1, permit the escape of steam into the moemme lasses hopper for the purpose of heating or boiling the molasses.

The front wall 31 of the upper enclosure is provided with an opening 35 below the molasses hopper which is covered by a hopper 36 having inc-lined side and end we Is 37 and 38 respectively and which is closed by a hinged cover 39. One of the objects of this hopper is to permit other ingredients such as the semi-solid buttermilk to be poured into the mixing troughs, but it also affords a convenient means for observing the spout of the gate Valve of the molasses hopper for determinin the proper rate of flow of molasses there rom. While I have here and in subsequent places referred to the hopper 3 as the molasses hopper it is to be understood that the hopper is intended to be used as well for semi-solid buttermilk or any other viscous ingredient which is to be mixed with the bran .or other grain product.

The lower enclosure is divided by the partition 40 into two chambers, the upper chamber constituting a pair of longitudinally arranged mixing troughs 41 and 42 and the lower space constituting a heating chamber a portion thereof near the lower front end being partitioned off by the walls 43 and 44 to form a combustion chamber 45, which is best shown in Figure 3.

Within the combustion chamber is the burner 46 which is fed with oil by the conduit 47, best shown in Figures 2 and 3, controlled by the regulating valve 48. The burner obtains its draft through apertures 49 in the bottom wall 7, the airentering said neath the draft aperture 49 and serves the.

purpose of protecting. the floor of the building in which the mixing machine is housed from the accidental dropping of burning particles through the draft apertures.

In the upper part of the combustion chamber is located ,the heating coil 53 which is connected by means of the inlet and outlet pipes 54 and 55 respectively with lower and intermediate levels in the boiler. A pressure gage 89 is conveniently located on a projecting end of the boiler. The steam coil is heated by the burner 46, and a massive metallic shield 56 is provided which is slidable along the angle iron track 57 and which may be pushed between the steam coil and and encloses between itself and the bottom' wall of the mixing machine, a dead air space. In order to further protect the floor of the building, in which the mixing machine is.

housed, from fire risk a layer of asbestos fiber 59 is placed upon the upper face. of the bottom wall 7 and is enclosed by a transverse sheet metal partition 60.

The combustion chamber 45 is provided with an outlet opening 61 leading to the heating chamber which chamber extends below-the mixing troughs, between the latter, and on both sides thereof so as to impart to said mixing troughs the full heating effect of, the heated products of combustion. The outer side walls of the heating chamber are insulated by means of the panels 62 and 63 each of which is constructed in a manner,

shown in detail in Figure 5, comprising a sheet of asbestos fiber 64 reinforced on its inner side b a sheet metal plate 65 and on its outer si e by the sheet metal plate 66 the ends of which are bent over and under the plate 65 in clamping engagement therewith so as to bind the several elements into a unitary structure. The panels 62 and 63 are for the purpose of conserving the. heat 'within the heating chamber as well as to minimize the fire risk. As the ends of the heating chamber are constituted by the heavy cast iron end walls 3 and 4 no heat insulation is necessary at these places.

The end wall 3 of the lower enclosure of the mixing machine is provided on its right and left sides with similar rectangular apertures shown in dashed lines in Figure 4, one of which is closed by the fire door 67 and the other by a removable plate 68. The construction is such that the end plate 3 can be used interchangeably with a mixing machine having the combustion chamber on the left hand side instead of the right as'shown in the drawings.

Running longitudinally through each of the mixing troughs 41 and 42 and carried in hearings in the opposite end walls of the lower enclosure of the mixing machine are the shafts 69 and 70 which are geared together on the outside of the rear end wall by means of the bevel gears 71 and 7 2. The shaft 69 is further provided with a pulley 73 adapted to be connected to any available source of power by means of which the shafts 69 and 70 are rotated. Mounted on each of said shafts is a spiral conveyer 74 and 75 respectively, fitting, in fairly close relation, the semi-cylindrical bottom portions of the mixing troughs. The spiral conveyers are so arranged that as the shafts rotate in opposite directions, due to their geared connection, material carried in one direction by one conveyer will be impelled in the opposite direction by the other. At

each end the partition wall 76 which separates the mixing troughs terminates short of the respective end walls of the mixing machine and each of the shafts 69 and 70 is provided at an opposite end with a three bladed paddle wheel 77, the function of which is to throw the material brought to it by one conveyer over into the adjacent conveyer. In this manner the material performs a cycle of travel through the conveyers, which is continued until the mixing operation is completed. The mixing trough 42 is provided near its forward end with a discharge opening 78, closed-by a sliding doorwhich is best shown in detail in Figure 2, said door 79 having an arc of curvature corresponding to the curvature of the bot-. tom of the mixing trough and held in place along its lateral edges by the offset flanges 80 carried by the brackets 81 which are riveted to the sheet metal partition 40 which formsthe wall of the mixing trough. A rod 82 is connected to the forward edge of the door 79 and extends through an aperture 83 in the front end wall 3 of the mixing machine and is connected at its end to the hand lever 84 which is pivotally joined to an extending piece of angle iron 85 riveted or bolted to the frame of the mixing machine. By means of the hand lever 84 the door 79 may be drawn open or shut in chine rests by the edge of the door 79 in its forward and backward movements. The chute 86 conveys towards its lower end to a convenient size to fit into the top of a sack or other suitable receptacle into which the mixture is to be discharged.

It will be noted from a comparison of Figures 2 and 6 that the discharge opening 78 is set back from the end of the mixing trough a sufficient distance to entirely clear the path of the paddle wheel 77. This construction is adopted for the reason that if the discharge opening were inthe path of the paddle wheel it might sometimes happen, when coarsely cut-corn fodder or other roughage is being treated with the molasses, that pieces of the latter might catch between a blade of the. paddle wheel 77 and an edge of the discharge opening, stalling the mixing machine orv breaking some part thereof. By placing the discharge opening back .of the path of the paddle wheel this cannot occur.

The feed mixing machine is preferably mounted upon legs 87 as shown in Figure 1 which are bolted to a double angle iron frame 88 making a very rigid and substantial construction.

The space enclosed between the walls 11 and 24 of the hoppers 10 and 23, respectively, is ventilated by means of a blower 88 secured to the off-set portion of the lower enclosure of the feed mixing machine, provided with a suction conduit 89 which terminates in an oblong hood or nozzle 90 which fits snugly the rectangular space between the upper portions of the walls 11 and 24 as shown in Figure 3. The nozzle 90 is provided with a screen 91 which is for the purpose of preventing ch-afi from being drawn into the blower. By drawing off the damp air from within said air chamber which has become saturated by the moisture driven off from the mixture within the mixing troughs, a much quicker rate of evaporation is brought about, which hastens the drying of the mixture. advantageous in the incorporation of semisolid buttermilk with the grain, it being impracticable to subject the latter to an excessively high temperature for fear of destroying the lactic acid ferment which gives to the buttermilk mixture one of, its most valuable characteristics as a feed. The air which is drawn out by the blower 88 is replenished through the bottoms of the hoppers if empty, or, normally, by raising the cover 39 of the hopper 36, the air being admitted through the opening 35.

The operation of the device is as follows The feed to be treated, which may range from bran to any variety of coarse roughage, is placed in the hopper 10, the hopper 23 is then supplied with molasses and the hand wheel 22 is turned in a counterclockwise direction in order to permit'the contents of the hopper to dum into the mixing troughs. The burner is lighted, the conveyors put into operation and the grain thoroughly agitated, and heated by conduction of heat through the walls of the troughs, from the heating chambers. At the same time, steam is generated in the steam coil 53 which passing into the boiler 32 is carried through the pipe 33 and discharge through the openings 34 intothe body of molasses thoroughly warming it or boiling it if necessary.

At the proper time the gate valve to the molasses hopper is opened by manipulating the handle 33 and, the correctdegree of opening the same may be judged by raising the cover 39 of the hopper 36 and observing the size of the stream of molasses issuing from said gate valve. If desired any third ingredient such as butter-milk may be thrown into the hopper 36, at any period of the mixing operation. The mixture will circulate back and forth through the mixing troughs impelled by the conveyers, be-

This is especially ing thrown from one conveyer to the other by the paddle wheels when it reaches the end of each trough. The moist air within the mixing chamber is withdrawn by the blower 88 which materially assists in the drying of the mixture. When the proper degree of mixing has been attained and the product is sufliciently dry the discharge door 7 9 is opened and the mixture discharged into a receptacle placed at the lower end of the chute 86. Should the steam gauge 89 indicate an excess of pressure the shield 56 is pushed inwardly in order to protect the steam coil 53 from the direct heat of the burner.

As the boiler 32 is mounted in the air space lying between the molasses hopper and grain hopper the air in said air space will become heated by radiation from the boiler and will assist materially in warming the molasses as well as the material contained in the hopper 10.

It is contemplated that when the feed mixer is operated in establishments having an available steam supply, the burner and combustion chamber may be dispensed with and a steam drum or drums inserted directly beneath the feed troughs, in the heating chamber and connected to the source of steam supply. In this case the air in the heating chamber is heated bysaid steam drum, and the latter is directly connected to the boiler 32 by means of conduits 54 and 55. i

' Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a feed mixing machine, a pair of longitudinally disposed mixing troughs, a conveyer mounted in each trough, said conveyers rotating in opposite directions, and a paddle wheel mounted at an opposite end of each conveyer to rotate therewith for throwing material into the other conveyer, one of discharge openingadjacent one end thereof but out of the zone of the paddle wheel.

2. In a feed mixing machine, a pair of longitudinally disposed mixing troughs, a conveyer mounted in each trough, said conveyers rotating in opposite directions, a addle wheel mounted at an opposite en of .each conveyer for-throwing material into the other conveyer, one of said troughs being provided with a discharge opening adjacent one end thereof but out of the path of the paddle wheel at that end, a sliding door controlling said discharge opening having closed and open positions and a chute secured to said trough around said discharge said troughs being provided with a l opening, said chute being suificiently large to embrace said door in both closed and opened positions.

3. In a feed mixing machine, a mixing trough having a discharge opening adjacent thereby. 1 M 6. In a feed mixing machine, a mixing ing a guideway therefor, a chute secured to said trough adjacent said discharge opening, said chute being sufliciently large to embrace said sliding door in both opened and closed positions.

4. In a feed mixing machine, a mixing trough, a four-walled enclosure in superposed relation to said mixing trough, partition walls in said enclosure and extending between the side walls of said enclosure dividing the latter into a hopper adjacent each end and an intermediate air space, and a boiler mounted in said air space.

5. In a feed mixing machine, a mixing trough, a four-walled enclosure in superposed relation to said mixing trough, partition walls in said enclosure, extending between the side Walls of said enclosure dividing the latter into a hopper adjacent each end and an intermediate air space, and a boiler mounted in said air space and having the ends thereof projecting through the sides of said enclosure and supported trough, a four-walled enclosure in superposed relation to said mixing trough, partition walls in said enclosure, extending between the side walls of said enclosure dividing the latter into a hopper adjacent eachend and an intermediate air space, a boiler mounted in said air space, and a steam pipe communicating at one endwith said boiler and opening at its other end into one of said hoppers.

7. In a feed mixing machine, a feed trough, a hopper positioned above said feed trough, a valve controlled discharge opening for said hopper, a second hopper located above said mixing trough and to one side of the first named hopper, the valve controlled discharge opening of said first named hopper being Visible from the top of said second hopper. 8. In a feed mixing machine, a combustion chamber, a' mixing trough having jacketed walls communicating at one end With the combustion chamber and at the of hoppers in superposed relation to said mixing trough and adapted to discharge therein, a boiler, a connection from said boiler to the interior of one of said hoppers. a combustion chamber below said mixing trough in communicationwith the jacketed Walls thereof, a steam coil in said combustion chamber communicating with said boiler and a burner in said combustion chamber.

11. In a feed mixing machine, a mixing trough having jacketed walls, a plurality of hoppers in superposed relation to said mixing trough and adapted to discharge therein, a boiler, a connection from said boiler to the interior of one of said hoppers, a combustion chamber below said mixing trough in communication with the jacketed walls thereof, a steam coil in said combustion chamber communicating with said boiler. a. burner in said combustion cham her and means in said combustion chamber for controlling the degree of heat imparted to said steam coil.

12. In a mixing machine, a pair of longitudinally disposed mixing troughs having jacketed walls, a conveyer mounted in each trough, said conveyers being geared together to rotate in opposite directions, a paddle wheel at an opposite end of each 'conveyer and rotatable-therewith for throwing material into the other conveyer, an enclosure arranged in superposed relation to said mixing troughs having side and end walls, partition walls in said enclosure, extending between the side walls of said enclosure dividing it into a pair of hoppers one at each end with an intermediate air space therebetween, a boiler in said air space having a connection leading to the interior of one of said hoppers, a combustion chamber below one of said mixing troughs near one end thereof and communicating with the jacketed Walls of said mixing troughs, a steam coil in said combustion chamber having inlet and outlet connections with said boiler, and a burner in said combustion chamber.

13. In a feed mixing machine, a pair of longitudinally disposed mixing troughs, a conveyer mounted in each trough, said conveyers, being geared together and rotating in opposite directions, a paddle wheel mounted at an opposite end of each conveyer and rotatable therewith for throwing material into the other conveyor, an enclosure arranged in superposed-relation -to said mixing troughs having side and end walls, partition walls extending between said side walls forming a hopper at each end of said enclosure with an intermediate air space, a boiler mounted in said air space having a connection leading to the interior of one of walls of said mixing troughs, a combustion chamber below one of said mixing troughs, and communicating with said heating chamber, a steam coil in said combustion chamler having inlet and outlet connections with said boiler and a burner in said combustion .chamber. a

14. In a feed mixing machine, a pair of longitudinally disposed mixing troughs, a conveyor mounted in each trough, said con- .veyers being geared together and rotating in opposite directions, a paddle wheel mount- Ed at an opposite end of each conveyer and rotatable therewith for throwing material into the other conveyer, an enclosure arranged in superposed relation to saidmixing troughs having side and end walls, partition walls extending between said side walls forming a hopper at each end of said enclosure with an intermediate air space, a boiler mounted in said air space having a connection leading to the interior of one of said hoppers, a heating chamber having heat insulated bottom and side walls and being in heat interchanging relationship with the walls of said mixing troughs, a combustion chamber below one of said mixing troughs and communicating with said heating chamber, a steam coil in said combustion chamber having inlet and outlet connections with said boiler, a burner in said combustion chamber and means in said combustion chamber for regulating the heating effect of said burner upon said steam coil.

15. In a feed mixing machine, a mixing trough having jacketed walls, a plurality of hoppers in superposed relation to said mixing trough and adapted to discharge thereinto, a boiler, a connection from said boiler to the interior of one of said hoppers, heating means for supplying heat to the jacketed walls of said mixing trough and for generating steam in said boiler.

16. In a feed mixing machine, a mixing trough, a four-walled enclosure in superposed relation to said mixing trough, partition walls in said enclosure extending between the side walls of said enclosure dividing the latter into a hopper adjacent each end andan intermediate air space communicating with said mixing trough, a suction conduit communicating with said air space and an exhaust blower connected to said conduit.-

lT. In a feed mixing machine, a combustion chamber, a mixing trough having jacketed walls communicating at one end with the' combustion chamber and at the other with the atmosphere, an enclosure forming an air space communicating with said mixing trough, a suction conduit opening within said enclosure and an exhaust blower connected to said conduit.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARTIN F. THATCHER.

Witnesses:

MILTON A. FULTON, WAIJIER A. MCDOWELL. 

